Couplet. As you sail through life, hold fast, keep in mind To offer some smiles and nods and speak kind

Transcription

1 Couplet The Basics of a Couplet: A couplet has two lines. The two lines rhyme. The two lines have the same number of syllables in them. More sophisticated characteristics of a Couplet: Couplets can be written to Shakespearean standards by ensuring that each line has ten syllables. Shakespearean couplets also have a rhythm established by using a pattern of an unaccented syllable followed by an accented syllable. This two syllable poetic foot is called an iamb. Having five iambs in a line get you to the ten syllables per line and produces the meter called iambic pentameter. Typically, articles, prepositions, prefixes and suffixes are unaccented syllables. The accented syllables tend to be the verbs, nouns, adverbs and adjectives. When these parts of speech are multi syllabic, the base portion of the word is usually accented. Couplets can be extended into a series by having multiple couplets linked to more fully describe the same subject or topic. If you extend the poem by having more than one couplet, each couplet should maintain its two line rhyme scheme. Speak Kindly As you sail through life, hold fast, keep in mind To offer some smiles and nods and speak kind 1. Title your couplet(s) with the name of the Civility principle you are trying to capture in the

2 Haiku The Basics of Haiku: Each haiku is three lines. The first line has 5 syllables in it. The second line has 7 syllables in it. The third (and last) line has 5 syllables in it. More sophisticated characteristics of Haiku: Shift in ideas: in traditional haiku, the author writes in a shift. Either the first two lines develop an idea and the third line shifts away, or the last two lines of the poem shift away from the image or the idea of the first line. This shift may be signaled by a cutting word and should create a leap for the reader, an internal comparison between the two ideas or images. Haiku tends to incorporate language that evoke the 5 senses and describe something that can be experienced but not necessarily interpreted or analyzed. So, poets tend to use more objective or concrete words rather than subjective. Traditional haiku includes a seasonal reference. Listen Birds chirp as leaves fall Vibrant colors swirl and crunch Rustling speaks volumes 1. Title your haiku poem with the name of the Civility principle you are trying to capture in the

3 Limerick The Basics of a Limerick: A limerick has five lines. A limerick has a pattern of rhyme: the first, second and fifth lines rhyme with each other, and the third and fourth lines rhyme with each other. A limerick has a certain rhythm (or meter) to it: There was an old man from Peru da DUM da da DUM da da DUM Who dreamed he was eating his shoe Da DUM da da DUM da da DUM He woke in the night da DUM da da DUM With a terrible fright da DUM da da DUM And found out that it was quite true da DUM da da DUM da da DUM More sophisticated characteristics of a Limerick: The first line of a limerick typically introduces a character by name or by place of origin. A limerick is usually humorous, and the last line typically has a twist that is the linchpin of the humor or irony of the poem. The rhythm (or meter) of the poem had three poetic feet in the first, second and fifth line; and two poetic feet in the third and fourth lines. Refrain from Idle Complaints There was an old woman who griped She snarled and she barked and she sniped The water s too cold The bread it tastes old But then by a truck she was swiped! 1. Title your limerick with the name of the Civility principle you are trying to capture in the

4 Acrostic Poem The Basics of an Acrostic Poem: Write the word or phrase vertically, placing one letter on the left hand side of the page. Usually that letter is capitalized to make it stand out. There are no set number of lines. Write a line for each letter, starting with a word that begins with the letter on that line. More sophisticated characteristics of an Acrostic Poem: Acrostic poems can also rhyme, using any pattern that the poet chooses. Acrostic poems can also have a certain rhythm (or meter) by controlling the number of syllables in each line and the pattern of accented and unaccented syllables. Think the Best T empting as it may be to do otherwise, H owever hard you must work at it, I ndulge in the positive! N ever sink to bad mouthing, to pessimism; K eep it kind and hang on to optimism. T hose who surround you H overing, hoping E arnestly are B ound to your E xpectations & attitude and their utterances, so S ay what is good T hink what you hope might be; think the best. 1. Title your acrostic poem with the name of the Civility principle you are trying to capture in the

5 Blank Verse Basics of Blank Verse: Blank verse has no rhymes and no set number of lines. Blank verse has 10 syllables in each line of the poem. For the purposes of this submission only, each blank verse poem can be no more than 15 lines. It can be shorter than that. More sophisticated characteristics of Blank Verse: Blank verse is written to produce a certain rhythm (or meter). The 10 syllables in each line are divided into 5 sets of 2 syllable units or poetic feet. Each 2 syllable unit starts with an unaccented syllable followed by an accented syllable. This unit is called an iamb, and because there are 5 such poetic feet or iambs in each line, the rhythm is called iambic pentameter. Typically, articles, prepositions, prefixes and suffixes are unaccented syllables. The accented syllables tend to be the verbs, nouns, adverbs and adjectives. When these parts of speech are multi syllabic, the base portion of the word is usually accented. Accept and Give Praise She says that s good, and then I say okay! I say well done, and she says why thank you. I know that she has been paying me mind; I am pleased to know that I make the grade. Of course, she s likewise thrilled to be in the light. We re both inspired to fight on for good. 1. Title your blank verse with the name of the Civility principle you are trying to capture in the

6 Free Verse Basics of Free Verse: Free verse has no requirements for rhyme or rhythm, the number of lines or the typical subject matter. Free verse is experimental and fun. For the purposes of this submission only, limit your Free Verse poems to no more than 15 lines. Of course, it can be shorter than that. More sophisticated characteristics of Free Verse: Word choice is critical in free verse, since there are no other parameters for this form of poetry. Decide whether to use long or short lines depending on the subject you choose, and the mood or attitude you want to convey. Be strategic about your choice of line length. Apologize Sincerely This Is Just To Say, by William Carlos Williams I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so cold 1. Title your free verse with the name of the Civility principle you are trying to capture in the

7 Sonnet Basics of a Sonnet: A sonnet is 14 lines. Each line in a sonnet typically has 10 syllables. A sonnet has a rhythm or meter by organizing the 10 syllables in each line to include five twosyllable units or feet. Each foot begins with an unaccented syllable followed by an accented syllable; this unit is called an iamb. Because there are five iambs per line, this pattern is called iambic pentameter. A sonnet has a specific rhyme scheme or pattern: ababcdcdefefgg, so that the first and third lines rhyme (the a designation), the second and fourth lines rhyme (the b designation) and so on. The sonnet ends in a couplet, two final lines that rhyme with each other (the lines designated with a g ). A sonnet has an introduction, a turning point, and a conclusion. Sonnet 138, by William Shakespeare When my love swears that she is made of truth, I do believe her though I know she lies, That she might think me some untutored youth, Unlearned in the world's false subtleties. Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young, Although she knows my days are past the best, Simply I credit her false-speaking tongue: On both sides thus is simple truth suppressed: But wherefore says she not she is unjust? And wherefore say not I that I am old? O! love's best habit is in seeming trust, And age in love, loves not to have years told: Therefore I lie with her, and she with me, And in our faults by lies we flattered be. 1. Title your sonnet with the name of the Civility principle you are trying to capture in the poem. You may add a subtitle if you wish.

8 The Basics of a Text/Tweet Message: Text/Tweet Message Keep it short; capture the Civility Principle in a few number of words Utilize the shorthand common to texting and tweeting Don t Shift Responsibility and Blame Keep it 2 Urself U No U did it U own it No more she said he did B bold, B who U R, B all grown up K? 1. Title your Text/Tweet Message with the name of the Civility principle you are trying to capture in the

9 Narrative The Basics of a Narrative: A narrative tells a story and typically has a beginning, middle and end. A narrative is made up of sentences and paragraphs and is prose writing, not poetry. The story should be an example of the Civility Principle at work in a classroom or in a setting in which students could find themselves. The story can tell about how someone chose to be an example of the principle or not. For the purposes of this writing, the narrative should be no longer than 200 words (not counting the title or subtitle). More Sophisticated Characteristics of a Narrative: The best narratives offer significant sensory details to convey the setting in which the incident took place. Narratives also reveal the character of the people involved through description of the person, careful use of dialog (including interior dialog), and significant action. Acknowledge Others I stood in Jack in the Box with others who had ordered and paid, but not yet received their burgers and fries. Pressed against the tile wall, I watched the ragged, dirty and desperate man at the counter empty his pockets of pennies and nickels. The resigned employee across from him repeated, If you can t pay, you have to leave. But the vagrant stayed at the counter struggling with his change. Those behind him grew impatient and repeated, You have to leave. Again and louder the mantra echoed off those cold tile walls. An attempt to remove the homeless man was met with resistance, and suddenly his filthy fist connected, over shoulder of a man attempting to remove him, with the customer impatiently demanding that he leave. Blood flew at impact, and the raggedy man was pitched out Jack s front door. I still ask myself: Why didn t I step forward? I had the extra change. Why didn t I feed that hungry man? Why did I press back against that wall hoping for invisibility? Why did I fail to acknowledge the humanity of a poor soul who just wanted to eat? 1. Title your Narrative with the name of the Civility principle you are trying to capture in the piece of writing. You may add a subtitle if you wish.